Lifting steel mesh from rear of lorry ends in tragedy

It has been widely reported that a delivery driver has died after 5 tonnes of “mesh steel” fell on him. It is believed a lifting chain failed at the large house building project in Weybridge, Surrey on 15 February 2016.

Reports suggest the deceased workman “became impaled” on one of the rods of steel being hoisted from the road vehicle and that he remained trapped under the fallen metal for hours until rescue services used a cherry picker to lift the metal from his body.

A spokesperson from Rainham Steel told the Mail Online:

‘Sadly we can confirm that one of our drivers was fatally injured whilst working offsite.

We would like to offer our condolences to his family and our priority is to ensure that they are kept informed whilst we work with the local authorities to investigate the causes of the incident.’

Chain holding steel “snapped”

The Mail Online states that a “crane” was lifting the load from the lorry when the load unexpectedly dropped after “the chain holding the bundle together snapped”.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said:

‘Police and other emergency services attended the location but the man was sadly declared dead at the scene. Officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.’

A spokesman for HSE confirmed they would be investigating the death, in partnership with Surrey Police.

A file is being prepared for the coroner and an inquest was expected to be opened and adjourned in the next few days.